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It is a common warning among many that co-parenting a canine companion after a breakup is a terrible idea. The consensus suggests such arrangements impede ex-partners from moving forward, lead to scheduling chaos, spark arguments, and prove frustrating for all parties. Seemingly, and in a twist worthy of a direct-to-platform film, it can even cause the dogs themselves to become depressed.

While respecting the emotional well-being of dogs – pet parents speak of their profound sensitivity. For a standout portrayal in canine melancholy, simply recall recent cinema. I firmly believe that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type portrayed by the canine actor Gus, would find it difficult adapting to split households. Whether this premise a full holiday film on such a setup holds water remains debatable at best.

Predictable Foundations

Honestly, Merv, written by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart and helmed by playwright Jessica Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. It functions as a seasonal offering from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the ambitions remains surface-level. The plot unfolds as straightforward: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, take a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will surely stumble toward the idea that they should reunite. Side characters – including familiar faces – fulfill roles eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. Visually has the quality of a platform's in-house production, with a Christmas setting that is obviously artificial – as seen in fake snow surrounding lush pines as North Carolina stands in for a wintery Boston.

The Canine Charisma

How these predictable parts merge into an entertaining watch depends on the execution and one's taste for easy entertainment. On the latter point, Merv hones in on a demographic – those people who seek out for pet content. Audiences receive a wealth of adorable dog montages. The primary selling point is the canine star, and even if it causes some stilted moments between what the dog does and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on dog beach fun, dog depression, and, in the end, doggie joy.

Where It Wobbles

This level of success cannot be applied for the romantic plot. Its style shifts uneasily between emotional depth, zany antics, standard rom-com beats, and physical comedy, never fully committing to a consistent feel. The fault lies not with the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the absurd and awkward demanded of the unusual premise. His performance contains a endearing lack of ego that supplies a significant portion of the appeal for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, in her typical fashion, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will either resonate with viewers. The character comes across as a little too aloof, particularly when contrasted against Cox's heartfelt sincerity. (For what it's worth, Gus the Dog succeeds in looking despondent – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he's definitely an excellent dog.)

Merv tries to give weight to Anna and Russ's relationship for sequences focusing solely on them – which is unfortunate, considering the dog is easily the best part of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The cause for their original breakup could have been more adult and realistic with more screen time and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, meeting every expected note. Crafting a story about dog co-parenting is not terrible – but it's not exactly a great one either.

• Merv streams on the Amazon platform starting December 10.